How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

A robot vacuum can save you lots of time and effort in the case of regular cleaning. The best ones are adept at getting rid of dust as well as light debris and cords.

The pricier ones even mop your floors, but they can't climb the stairs. Choose models that have intelligent mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and roomy self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The top robots in our testing are efficient and user-friendly, and able to keep up with everyday debris. You'll need a model with adequate carpet-picking capabilities and the ability to take on stairs. If you're looking for additional features, you may be interested in a robot with smart mapping technology or an app that lets you control it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau is a contributing reviewer and writer for shopping at PEOPLE who has tested dozens of robotic vacuums. She prefers robovacs that have the most conveniences, such as those that have self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and refill the water tanks used to mop robotic vacuums. She's also a fan of the robots that are able to recognize landmarks like furniture legs and power cords so they don't get caught when climbing steps.

This robot from Black and Decker has a lower score on navigation and has less technology for avoiding objects than the best-rated models. However, it does have a large dustbin that doesn't need regular emptying and has a lengthy battery life. In addition, it has the ability to schedule cleaning sessions and then return to the place where it last stopped and makes it much easier to clean larger spaces. This model is also a great option for pet owners since it is able to identify and prevent tangled hair as well as fallen food particles.


In our tests we tested the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines with a LIDAR sensor that can map rooms and detect obstacles, with an organized light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. It can stay clear of liquid droplets, stairs, and furniture legs easily with this combination. It also has the ability to save up to four floor plans for later use. It is also able to stop the cleaning process at any moment and return to where it stopped, so you can do chores while the robot is working. The included app offers a 3D representation of your home, room labels, and more advanced cleaning options.

Although this model isn't able to clean as well as our top-rated models but it excels in removing fine debris like baking soda and sand as well as larger items, such as orzo pasta and metal screws. The only drawback is that it can't mop and has a slightly less effective navigation system.

Best for Carpet

If you have carpeting, pick a robot vacuum that scores high for rug and carpet maneuverability and pickup. Many models do a good job of picking up dust embedded in low-pile carpet and some do a decent job at cleaning up larger debris such as orzo pasta, metal screws and pet hair. But they don't pick up fine particles like canister or upright vacuums, and they may be unable to pick up dirt in the vicinity of baseboards and thresholds.

For most carpeted homes, a 2-in-1 robotic vacuum/mop is the best choice. You can exchange an empty bin for a moist mopping mat. More , for example, is a vacuum cleaner and mops wet with circular pads that rotate at a speed of 200 rotations per minute. It recognizes and raises its pads when it comes in contact with carpet, preventing the floor from getting wet. You don't need to remove them or replace them each time. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other robot vacuums/mops when it comes to avoiding obstacles and getting close to rugs and thresholds.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another option worth considering. It did well in our tests and you can set it up to schedule it to tidy your home while you are away. It can also be set to only mop, and we liked its remarkable navigation on rug and floor surfaces as well as its ability to climb over and up onto furniture. The Combo i5 has a long runtime and excellent path planning for the size of the device.

If you're looking for a high-tech vacuum, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a fantastic option. It has a huge charging dock that can go several weeks without having to be emptied and has amazing navigation abilities and auto-emptying on both carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It also has a smart-mapping feature and can be programmed to only operate during certain hours of the day (a useful feature to keep the sly kids and pets from running it amuck). The Shark isn't as powerful as other mop/robot combinations, but it still picks hair and pet hair very well. It's also the most affordable price of our top picks.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are the best choice for hardwood floors, as they can maneuver around obstacles easily without damaging the surfaces that are not. They are excellent at of picking up dust and crumbs, but they are unable to deal with pet hair and other larger particles. They don't have the suction power of an expensive upright or canister vacuum, so they're not the best choice for carpeted rooms or deep cleaning upholstery.

The best two-in-1 robots combine a vacuum and a mop, taking care of an entire task in one sweep. Look for models that have an onboard sensor to detect changes in the floor texture and adjust suction accordingly. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+, for instance, comes with this feature and can move seamlessly from hard to soft carpeting.

If your home is made up of hardwood floors, consider an automated vacuum and mop combo like the eufy S1 Pro. This model has a powerful robotic vacuum equipped with intelligent navigation that can clean hardwood floors and other surfaces. It also mop. Its sensors let it avoid hazards such as stairs.

The eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors using downward pressure, instead of simply swab them in order to remove dust and dirt. The mop pads are reusable, which reduce the amount of waste and reduce the spread of germs and can be cleaned in the docking station to save you time. The mop pads can also be cleaned and dried to avoid spreading mold.

Both the robovac and mop can be controlled by your smartphone to make it easier to manage the device. You can, for instance utilize the app to designate areas that the vacuum will not be allowed to enter, label different rooms, or plan specific cleaning times. The Eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that sucks debris through a trapdoor and puts it in a bagless or disposable bin, which means you don't need to manually empty the bin as often as you do with other models.

Best for Small Spaces

These robots are specifically designed for small spaces. They have smaller bins which hold less garbage. They are also more efficient in maneuvering around tight corners over larger models. They can also fit underneath furniture that larger robots can't reach. These robots are also cheaper than more expensive models, however you will need to empty their dirt bins manually at the end each cleaning session.

A couple of years ago, robotic vacuums underwent a major transformation as manufacturers began adding sensors to help them navigate around and avoid household objects that their conventional sensors would be stuck on or over. These advances have reduced the number of times our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag whether it was a power cord, a toy, or piece of pet waste.

However, the new sensors aren't solving all of the problems these machines have. The cheapest models still struggle with the same challenges that the older ones did, and many of them need a certain amount of light to be able to see where they're going. Look into one that has a spinning LIDAR device placed on top of the model to create maps of the area. Our top pick and runner-up models have this feature. This allows them to work in darkness and avoid obstacles like stairs.

They can also be programmed to utilize their cliff sensors when they are in or near the ground, but not when they are above it. It is essential to cover mirrors in order to stop this from occurring. The laser used by the LIDAR-based models may bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to believe it's in a different room.

Some of the models that we recommend allow you to create virtual no-go zones for areas you don't want the robot to enter. This can be helpful for those with pets or small children. These features aren't on all models we test. Check out our complete reviews before making your choice.